Axial vane rotary device
An axial vane rotary power device comprises a rotor arranged to turn within an annular chamber having two end plates with mutually facing undulating cam surfaces. Vanes retained in angularly spaced slots in the rotor reciprocate axially as the rotor turns. Transfer passages, interleaved between the vanes, connect each working chamber to a respective transfer port at the central bore of the rotor. A tubular inner stator member, about which the rotor turns, has two sets of peripheral ports that provide fluid communication between the working chambers and intake and exhaust channels as the rotor turns. Various configurations of the device allow it to function as either a two- or four-phase internal combustion engine, a fluid driven motor, a pump, a compressor or an expander.
1. Field of the Invention
The invention relates to rotary devices of the axial vane type, in which a volume change occurs between adjacent vanes and cam surfaces on each side of the rotor and in which the vanes translate axially with respect to the rotational axis of the rotor. More particularly, the present invention relates to an internally supercharged and turbocharged axial vane rotary device and a method for vane actuation in axial vane rotary devices.
2. Description of Related Art
A typical prior art axial vane rotary device (e.g. U.S. Pat. No. 5,429,084 to Cherry et al.) comprises an external stator enclosing a cylindrical chamber having an annular outer wall and end walls. Each end wall has an axially undulating cam surface parallel with respect to the other end so that high portions of the cam surface of one end align with low portions of the cam surfaces at the opposite end. A rotor is rotatably mounted within the chamber. The rotor has an annular outer wall and a plurality of angularly spaced apart, axially extending slots extending therethrough. A vane is slidably received in each slot. The vanes reciprocate axially and alternately expand and contract volumes between adjacent vanes and the axially undulating end walls as the rotor rotates. Each axially undulating end wall has alternating first and second portions. The second portions are further away from the rotor than the first portions. The first portion of one end wall is aligned with a second portion of the opposite end wall so that the axial distance between them remains constant. The slots extend radially outwards on the rotor to the outer wall thereof. The outer end of each vane slidably engages the annular outer wall of the stator. The outer wall of the stator may have a guide cam and vanes may have a follower received by the guide cam. The guided cam is shaped to cause the vanes to reciprocate axially with respect to the rotor as the rotor rotates. Each vane may have resiliently biased first seals extending along the inner edge and second seals along end edges thereof.
In the above prior art, as the rotor rotates, the vanes move outward due to centrifugal force and make sliding contacts on the annular outer wall, which may be lubricated by an oil film, and the side edges of the vanes make sliding contact with the axially undulating cam surfaces, thus causing the vane to reciprocate as the rotor rotates. This arrangement is adequate in a small axial vane rotary device or in one operating at low speed with provision for appropriate lubrication at the outer and side edges of the vanes. In axial rotary devices that are large or that operate at high speed, excessive centrifugal forces and shear forces cause large outer and edge tip loading of the vanes and result in excessive wear and damage to wall surfaces and vanes. In effort to overcome these problems, the reciprocating motion of the vane is actuated by a pin projecting from the vane, equipped with an anti-friction shoe, as the follower that is received by the guide cam. Although this arrangement alleviates the outer and side tip loading by conveying such loading to the pin, the pin itself often can not withstand such large friction forces without breaking.
In the above prior art, the intake and exhaust ports comprise passages through the undulating end walls. This arrangement makes the fabrication of such surfaces more complex.
In the above prior art, the design of the engine does not permit inclusion of internal supercharging or turbo-charging capability and thereby any such charging has to be performed externally. The advantage of internal super- and turbo-charging is the efficient utilization of space and a reduction of pressure losses associated with conduit inter-connection, as well the reduction of the complexity associated with such inter-connection.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTIONAn overall object of the invention is to provide an improved axial vane rotary power device which overcomes the disadvantages associated with earlier engines of the type.
One objective of the present invention is to provide a simple and improved vane actuation mechanism that reduces outer and side tip loading of vanes in a rotary vane engine.
Another objective of the present invention is to provide an internal supercharging and turbo charging capability in a rotary vane engine.
Still another objective of the present invention is to provide an improved intake and exhaust porting structure allowing for simpler and lower cost cam surface construction.
In accordance with the objectives, a preferred embodiment of the invention provides an axial vane rotary device of the type including a stator and a rotor. The stator comprises an outer external stator portion and internal stator portion. The external stator portion comprises a middle portion and two end portions. The middle portion preferably comprises axially split mating half portions, arranged so that each half portion has an axially undulating cam guide having a predominantly circular cross-section. The end portions comprise axially undulating walls that follow the profile of the guide cam. The internal stator portion comprises a cylindrical tubular element coaxially extending from and fixedly attached to one end wall portion. The internal stator portion comprises at least one pair of axially spaced apart peripheral intake and exhaust ports. A preferred internal stator encompasses a turbocharger assembly comprising a shaft with a compressor impeller coupled to one end, a turbine runner coupled to the other end, and a middle bearing. The turbocharger assembly is rotatably carried within a tubular internal stator. A rotor is rotatably mounted within the chamber defined by the inner annular wall of the external stator, the outer annular wall of the internal stator and the axially undulating end walls. The rotor has an annular outer wall and a plurality of angularly spaced-apart, axial slots extending therethrough. The rotor has a central bore adapted to rotatably receive the internal stator with a small clearance between respective annular surfaces. The rotor comprises a paired plurality of equally angularly spaced apart passages. Pairs of these passages are preferably mirror-images with respect to a middle transverse plane of the rotor. Each passage is preferably confined between two adjacent slots that include a side opening and an inner opening through the bore that is axially aligned with a pair of intake and exhaust ports of the internal stator. A plurality of vane assemblies is slidably disposed in slots. Each vane has side edges slidably engaging the undulating end walls and outer edges slidably engaging the outer annular wall. The rotor block is coupled to an end shaft through a set of blades extending from the shaft to the hub portion of the rotor. The effect of the fan blades is to act as a supercharger by increasing the mass flow of air passing from the front end stator portion into the interior.
One aspect of the invention is a vane actuation mechanism comprising an axially undulating guide cam in the external stator, preferably comprising a groove having predominantly semi-circular cross section. The cam follower comprises a ball element, preferably of self-lubricating material, retained within a hemi-spherical recess in the vane outer tip portion and engaging the guide cam.
Another aspect of a preferred embodiment of the invention is that it provides an axial vane rotary device having high power to weight ratio.
An aspect of a preferred embodiment of the invention is that it provides an axial vane rotary device with integral supercharging capability.
Another aspect of a preferred embodiment of the invention is that it provides an axial vane power device with internal turbo-charging capability.
Yet another aspect of a preferred embodiment of the invention is that it provides an axial vane rotary device that can be configured to operate as either a two or a four cycle internal combustion engine by modification of the cam and of the internal stator's porting arrangement.
Still another aspect of a preferred embodiment of the invention is that it provides an axial vane rotary device that can be configured to operate as pump, a compressor, or an expander by employing an internal stator having appropriate porting arrangements.
In studying this Detailed Description, the reader may be aided by noting definitions of certain words and phrases used throughout. Wherever those definitions are provided, those of ordinary skill in the art should understand that in many, if not most instances, such definitions apply to prior, as well as future uses of such defined words and phrases. At the outset of this Description, one may note that the terms “include” and “comprise,” as well as derivatives thereof, mean inclusion without limitation; the term “or,” is inclusive, meaning and/or; the word “discharge” which is commonly used to denote fluid flow out of a pump or the like and the word “exhaust” which is commonly used to denote fluid flow out of an internal combustion engine are used synonymously; and the terms “two-phase” and “four-phase” are used to describe operation of various embodiments of the invention that are respectively analogous to the two-cycle and four-cycle modes of operation of a conventional piston engine.
The inner annular wall of the preferred upper stator portion 12a comprises a groove 24a or guide cam and the lower stator portion comprises a similar mirror-image cam groove 24b. The two grooves mate at the axial splitting plane to form a continuous cam groove. The depicted front end plate 14 comprises an annular undulating cam surface 26a surrounding a central tubular portion 32a comprising intake openings 34 and a central opening for the protruding rotor shaft 44. Correspondingly, the depicted back end plate 16 comprises a similar annular undulating cam surface 26b surrounding a respective tubular portion 32b configured to receive the internal stator assembly 40. The mutually facing end plate cam surfaces comprise two opposite first portions relatively distant from a respective end plate and alternated by another two diagonally opposite second portions relatively proximal to the respective end plates. The first portion of one end plate is preferably axially aligned with the second portion of the opposite end plate so that the axial gap distance between cam surfaces remains fixed during the traverse of a complete circle around the axis of rotation 18.
For the engine shown in
A preferred internal stator assembly 40 is disposed within the tubular portion 32b of the end plate 16 and is fixed to that end plate by fixture means (not shown) so that it axially protrudes through the chamber and thereby defines, with the external stator portion, a predominantly annular chamber. The internal stator assembly 40 comprises intake and exhaust ports and may include a turbocharger assembly.
A rotor assembly 20, comprising the rotor blade assembly 30 is rotatably mounted coaxially along an axis of rotation 18 and within the annular chamber space defined by the outer annular wall of the external stator portion and the inner annular of internal stator portion. The rotor 20, as shown in
A plurality of vane assemblies 30, as shown in
A vane actuation mechanism for synchronizing the reciprocating motion of the vanes may comprise guide cam grooves 24a, 24b in the annular wall of the upper and lower half stator portion 12a, 12b, respectively, and ball cam followers 60 engaging those cam grooves. The cam groove, which has the same profile shape as the undulating cam surface, is preferably disposed at the mid distance between the two cam surfaces. The ball element 60 is partly encapsulated within a predominantly hemispherical recess 64 at the middle of the vane outer tip. The ball is preferably made of a self-lubricating material. The depth of both the cam groove and the predominantly hemispherical recess is necessarily slightly less than the radius of the ball element so that a sliding clearance is maintained between the outer vane tip and the outer annular wall of the chamber. The effect of centrifugal force, when the rotor rotates, is to push the vane outward, causing the ball element 60 to make sliding and rolling engagement with the guide groove 24a and 24b, thus forcing the vanes to axially reciprocate with respect to the rotor. During rotation the outer and side vane tips make a small clearance engagement with the outer annular wall and the side undulating cam surfaces. Sealing (not shown) may be provided through spring biased seals at the outer and side tips for sealing and sliding engagement at these surfaces.
An internal stator assembly 40, shown in
The operation of the axial vane rotary device as a four-phase internal combustion engine may be explained with reference to
Another embodiment of the axial vane rotary device is configured to operate as one of a pump, a compressor and an expander 110 by replacing the inner stator assembly 40, depicted in
The operation of the axial vane rotary device 110 as one of a pump, a compressor and an expander is illustrated by
Another embodiment of the axial vane rotary device 10 is one configured to operate as a two-phase internal combustion engine. In this device the end plates are replaced with ones having the cam surface profile shown in
The operation of the axial vane device 10 as a two cycle internal combustion engine is illustrated with reference to
Still another embodiment of the axial vane rotary device of
The operation of the axial vane device 10 as one of a pump, compressor, expander and fluid-driven motor is illustrated with reference to
Still another embodiment of the axial vane rotary device is one arranged to operate as a four-phase internal combustion engine with intake and compression phases taking place on one side of the rotor and power and exhaust phases taking place on the opposite side of the rotor as illustrated in
The operation of the axial vane device 10 as a four-phase internal combustion engine is illustrated with reference to
Still another embodiment of the axial vane rotary device 10 is one configured to operate as a four-phase internal combustion engine in which intake and compression phases take place on one side of the rotor and power and exhaust phases take place on the opposite side of the rotor as shown in
The operation of the axial vane device as a four-phase internal combustion engine is illustrated with reference to
It will be understood by someone skilled in the art that many of the details provided above are by way of example only and are not intended to limit the scope of the invention which is to be determined with reference to the following claims.
Claims
1. Apparatus for moving a vane axially in an axial vane rotary device, the apparatus comprising:
- a stator comprising outer and inner portions jointly defining an annular internal chamber having two end plates comprising mutually facing respective annular cam surfaces;
- a rotor comprising an axial slot for slidingly receiving the vane therein;
- a guide cam groove formed in an outer wall of the chamber;
- a substantially hemispherical recess disposed in an outer edge of the vane; and
- a freely movable ball element cam follower engaging both the recess and the guide cam groove, the ball element having a radius greater than a depth of the cam groove and a depth of the recess.
2. An axial vane rotary device comprising:
- a stator comprising an outer portion and an inner portion together defining a substantially annular internal chamber extending axially between two end plates comprising mutually facing respective cam surfaces;
- the inner stator portion comprising a central cylindrical portion comprising two sets of peripheral ports, each set disposed at a respective axial position, at least one peripheral port in each set thereof connected to at least one of an intake passageway and an exhaust passageway; and
- a rotor assembly rotatably mounted within the annular chamber,the rotor assembly comprising a shaft extending from a rotor block along an axis of the device, the rotor block having two axially spaced apart sides, the rotor block comprising:
- a central bore receiving therewithin the inner stator portion;
- axially spaced pairs of transfer passages, each passage of a pair thereof providing fluid communication between a respective side of the rotor block and a respective transfer port opening to the central bore in axial alignment with one of the sets of peripheral ports;
- a plurality of slots, each extending from one side of the rotor block to the other, the slots angularly disposed alternatively with the pairs of transfer passages; and
- vanes slidably disposed within respective slots for axial reciprocation therewithin, each vane comprising an outer edge engaging the outer annular wall and two side edges each engaging a respective one of the cam surfaces.
3. The axial vane rotary device of claim 2 wherein each cam surface comprises at least one high portion relatively proximal to the rotor block and at least one low portion relatively distal therefrom, each high portion of one cam surface aligned with a respective low portion of the opposite cam surface.
4. The axial vane rotary device of claim 2 wherein each cam surface comprises at least one high portion relatively proximal to the rotor block and at least one low portion relatively distal therefrom, the device further comprising at least one ignition port disposed within the at least one high portion of one of the cam surfaces.
5. The axial vane rotary device of claim 2 wherein the rotor further comprises a plurality of radially extending blades having respective inner ends fixed to the shaft respective and outer ends fixed to the block, so as to provide fluid communication between the central bore and an outside of the external stator.
6. The axial vane rotary device of claim 2, further comprising a turbocharger assembly rotatably mounted within the inner stator portion, the internal turbocharger assembly comprising a turbine portion drivingly coupled to a compressor portion.
7. The axial vane rotary device of claim 2, wherein each cam surface comprises:
- two high portions relatively proximal the block alternated by two low portions relatively distal from the block; and
- at least one ignition port disposed within one of the high portions of one of the cam surfaces; and
- wherein each set of peripheral ports comprises exactly one intake port and exactly one exhaust port, whereby the device is operable as a four-phase internal combustion engine.
8. The axial vane rotary device of claim 2, wherein each cam surface comprises:
- exactly one high portion relatively proximal the block and one low portion distal therefrom; and
- at least one ignition port disposed within the one high portion of one of the cam surfaces, and
- wherein each set of peripheral ports comprises exactly one intake port and exactly one exhaust port, whereby the device is operable as a two-phase internal combustion engine.
9. The axial vane rotary device of claim 1, wherein:
- each cam surface comprises two high portions relatively proximal the block alternated by two low portions relatively distal therefrom; and
- each set of peripheral ports comprises two diametrically opposite intake ports alternated by two diametrically opposite exhaust ports;
- whereby the device is operable as one of a pump, a compressor, a fluid driven motor, and an expander.
10. The axial vane rotary device of claim 2, wherein:
- each cam surface comprises exactly one high portion relatively proximal the block and one low portion relatively distal therefrom; and
- each set of peripheral ports comprises exactly one intake port angularly adjacent to exactly one exhaust port;
- whereby the device is operable as one of a pump, a compressor, a fluid driven motor and an expander.
11. The axial vane rotary device of claim 2, wherein:
- each cam surface comprises:
- two high portions relatively proximal the block alternated by two low portions relatively distal therefrom, and
- at least one ignition port disposed within one of the high portions of one of the cam surfaces;
- a first of the two sets of peripheral ports comprises two diametrically opposite intake ports alternated by two intermediate discharge ports in communication with an intermediate transfer cavity; and
- the second set of peripheral ports comprises two diametrically opposite exhaust ports alternated by two intermediate intake ports in communication with the intermediate transfer cavity; and
- the intermediate transfer cavity connects the intermediate discharge ports to the intermediate intake ports;
- whereby the device is operable as an internal combustion engine.
12. The axial vane rotary device of claim 2, wherein: each cam surface comprises:
- a high portion relatively proximal the block and a low portion relatively distal therefrom, and
- at least one ignition port disposed within the high portion of one of the cam surfaces,
- a first of the two sets of peripheral ports comprises one intake port and one intermediate discharge port in communication with an intermediate transfer cavity;
- the second set of peripheral ports comprises one exhaust port and one intermediate intake port in communication with the intermediate transfer cavity; and
- the intermediate transfer cavity connects the intermediate discharge port to the intermediate intake port;
- whereby the device is operable as an internal combustion engine.
13. An axial vane internal combustion engine comprising:
- a stator comprising an outer portion and an inner portion together defining a predominantly annular internal chamber having two end plates comprising mutually facing respective cam surfaces, the inner stator portion comprising a central cylindrical portion comprising at least two sets of axially spaced apart peripheral ports, at least one port in each set thereof connected to at least one of an intake passageway and an exhaust passageway; and
- a rotor assembly rotatably mounted within the annular chamber, the rotor assembly comprising a shaft extending from a rotor block along an axis of the device, the shaft protruding through one of the end plates; the rotor block comprising:
- a central bore receiving therewithin the inner stator portion;
- axially spaced apart pairs of transfer passages, each passage of a pair thereof providing fluid communication between a respective side of the rotor block and a respective transfer port opening to the central bore in axial alignment with one of the sets of peripheral ports;
- a plurality of slots, each extending from one side of the rotor block to the other, the slots angularly disposed alternatively with the pairs of transfer passages; and
- vanes slidably disposed within respective slots for axial reciprocation therewithin, each vane comprising an outer edge engaging the outer annular wall and two side edges, each engaging a respective one of the cam surfaces.
14. The axial vane rotary device of claim 13 wherein each cam surface comprises at least one high portion relatively proximal to the rotor block and at least one low portion relatively distal therefrom, the device further comprising at least one ignition port disposed within the at least one high portion of one of the cam surfaces.
15. The axial vane rotary internal combustion engine of claim 13, wherein:
- each cam surface comprises two high portions relatively proximal to the rotor block alternated by two low portions relatively distal therefrom;
- the engine further comprises at least one ignition port disposed within one of the high portions of one of the cam surfaces; and
- each of the two axially spaced apart sets of peripheral ports comprises one respective intake port angularly adjacent to one respective exhaust port;
- whereby the device is operable as a four-phase internal combustion engine.
16. The axial vane rotary internal combustion engine of claim 13, wherein:
- each of the cam surfaces comprises one high portion relatively proximal to the rotor block and one low portion relatively distal therefrom;
- the engine further comprises at least one ignition port disposed within one of the high portions of one of the surfaces; and
- each of the two sets of peripheral ports comprises one respective intake port axially adjacent to one respective exhaust port;
- whereby the device is operable as a two-phase internal combustion engine.
17. The axial vane rotary internal combustion engine of claim 13, wherein:
- each cam surface comprises two high portions relatively proximal to the rotor block alternated by two low portions relatively distal therefrom;
- the engine further comprises at least one ignition port disposed within one the high portions of one of the cam surfaces;
- one of the two sets of peripheral ports comprises two diametrically opposite intake ports alternated by two intermediate discharge ports;
- the second of the two sets of peripheral ports comprises two diametrically opposite exhaust ports alternated by two intermediate intake ports; and
- the inner stator portion comprises an intermediate transfer cavity comprising a transfer passageway connecting the intermediate discharge ports to the intermediate intake ports;
- whereby the engine is operable with intake and compression phases occurring adjacent one of the two sides of the rotor and wherein the compressed charge is transferred via the intermediate transfer cavity to the opposite side of the rotor for power and exhaust phases to take place.
18. The axial vane rotary internal combustion engine of claim 13, wherein:
- each cam surface comprises one high portion relatively proximal to the rotor block and one low portion relatively distal therefrom;
- the engine further comprises at least one ignition port disposed within the high portion of one of the cam surfaces;
- one of the two sets of peripheral ports comprises one intake port and one intermediate discharge port;
- the second of the two sets of peripheral ports comprises one exhaust port and one intermediate intake port; and
- the inner stator portion comprises an intermediate transfer cavity comprising a passageway connecting the intermediate discharge port to the intermediate intake port;
- whereby the engine is operable with intake and compression phases occurring adjacent one side of the rotor and power and exhaust phases occurring adjacent the opposite side of the rotor.
19. The axial vane rotary engine of claim 13 wherein the rotor assembly further comprises a supercharger comprising an axial fan portion comprising a plurality of blades having inner ends fixed to the shaft and outer ends fixed to the rotor block.
20. The axial vane rotary engine of claim 13, further comprising a turbocharger assembly rotatably mounted within the inner stator portion and comprising a turbine drivingly coupled to a compressor.
21. An axial vane rotary device operable as one of a pump, a compressor, an expander and a fluid-driven motor, the device comprising:
- a stator comprising outer and inner portions jointly defining an annular internal chamber having two end plates comprising mutually facing respective annular cam surface;
- the inner stator portion comprising a central cylindrical portion comprising at least two sets of axially spaced apart peripheral ports, at least one peripheral port in each set thereof connected to at least one of an intake passageway and an exhaust passageway; and
- a rotor assembly rotatably mounted within the annular chamber and comprising a rotor block and a shaft extending axially therefrom, the shaft protruding through one of the end plates;
- the rotor block comprising:
- a central bore receiving the inner stator portion;
- axially spaced apart pairs of transfer passages, each passage of a pair thereof providing fluid communication between a respective side of the rotor block and a respective transfer port opening to the central bore in axial alignment with one of the sets of peripheral ports;
- a plurality of slots, each extending from one side of the rotor block to the other, the slots angularly disposed alternatively with the pairs of transfer passages; and
- vanes slidably disposed within respective slots for axial reciprocation therewithin, each vane comprising an outer edge engaging the outer annular wall and two side edges, each engaging a respective one of the cam surfaces.
22. The axial vane device of claim 21, wherein:
- each cam surface comprises two high portions relatively proximal to the rotor block alternated by two low portions relatively distal therefrom; and
- each set of peripheral ports comprises two diametrically opposite intake ports alternated by two diametrically opposite exhaust ports.
23. The axial vane device of claim 21 wherein:
- each cam surface comprises one high portion relatively proximal the rotor block and one low portion relatively distal therefrom; and
- each of the two sets of peripheral ports comprises one respective intake port and one respective exhaust port.
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Type: Grant
Filed: Sep 7, 2004
Date of Patent: Nov 28, 2006
Patent Publication Number: 20060048743
Inventor: Osama M Al Hawaj (Daiyah)
Primary Examiner: Thai-Ba Trieu
Attorney: David Kiewit
Application Number: 10/935,680
International Classification: F01C 1/344 (20060101); F02B 53/00 (20060101);